New Hampshire Town Planning Runoff Project

Storm water runoff problems have plaged the Winnisquam, N.H., watershed area for years. Now officials are giving an engineering company the green light to begin securing permits for box culvert construction.

In a mid-October meeting, city officials granted Fluet Engineering, Gilford, N.H., permission to spend up to $4,000 on permits for five box culverts and up to another $3,000 to hire an environmental planning specialist subcontractor to redesign drainage along the private beach without using a retention pond.

"It's all in line, and we will rework the retention pond," said New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services limnologist Jody Connor. He added that he understands residents' objections to having a retention so close to the beach and swimming areas.

Direct flow into the lake is not allowed, so Connor said planners will have to find a way to slow water flow. A ditch with a "riprap" that will slow water flow and capture particulate matter is one option.

The area's drainage issues came to the forefront when a severe July 2006 storm event nearly destroyed portions of nearby roads.

Winnisquam officials have not received any revised estimates on project costs, according to Town Administrator Bruce Kneuer. Fluet Engineering estimated the total cost at about $1 million, which included the widening of a road, various paving projects and the installation of guardrails.

One chairperson suggested doing away with the road widening and having the street be a one-way road to save on costs--a suggestion Kneuer said leaders have not yet acted upon.

"The good thing is that we are all on the same page, and this will result in a project we can all be proud of," Conner said. "No more turbidity into the lake and no more roads washing into homes--that's our goal."

Source: The Citizen